Azerbaijan expects to launch gas exports to Hungary and Serbia by year's end - Aliyev

BAKU. May 31 (Interfax) - Azerbaijan expects to begin exporting natural gas to Hungary and Serbia by the end of 2023, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said.

"We are assessing the possibility [of deliveries] via Bulgaria, and I am confident that we will soon start to deliver [gas] to the countries that are its neighbors [...] If everything again goes according to schedule and if all the planned connections are built on time, our gas will begin arriving in Hungary and Serbia by the end of the year," Aliyev said on Wednesday at the opening ceremony for the 28th International Caspian Oil & Gas Exhibition (Caspian Oil & Gas) and the 11th Caspian International Power and Green Energy Exhibition (Caspian Power).

Azerbaijan is increasing its gas exports to Europe, the president said. Whereas in 2021 Azerbaijan exported around 8 billion cubic meters of gas to the European market, this figure will stand at approximately 12 bcm in 2023.

Azerbaijan has the potential to boost its gas exports to Europe by at least 20 bcm by 2027, he said.

As reported earlier, Azerbaijan started to export gas to Europe on December 31, 2020. It is currently supplying gas to Italy, Greece, Bulgaria and Romania.